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R/V Marcus G. Langseth

Seismic Shakedown cruise reports          East Pacific Rise 3D survey

R/V Langseth at sea

The R/V Marcus G. Langseth is a 235 ft, 3834 gross ton research vessel which is owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University.  Langseth replaces R/V Maurice Ewing, which ended a distinguished career in early 2005.

Langseth is classed by the American Bureau of Shipping as A-1 Baltic Ice Class IA and Coast Guard inspected; certificated to carry a total of 55 personnel of which approximately 20 are the ship's crew.

R/V Marcus G. Langseth began science operations offshore Costa Rica during February - March, 2008.


Originally constructed as a seismic vessel the Langseth was acquired in 2004, modified, and outfitted to perform the tasks required of a general purpose research vessel. This includes hull mounted 3.5 and 12 khz transducers and a Simrad 1x1 degree deep ocean multibeam swath bottom mapping system.

Over the side sampling capabilities include 25 MT SWL starboard a-frame serving four winches carrying 10,000m of 9/16" 3x19, 0.680" coaxial cable, 0.322' CTD wire, or 1/4' 3x19 wire.

Particularly unique to the academic research vessel are the Marcus Langseth's extensive geophysical capabilites which include a Syntrak 960-24 seismic recording system with four 6km solid-state hydrophone streamer cable and a 2000 psi, 40 pneumatic sound source array towed in four "strings" that can be configured either as a single, 2D source or dual, alternating 3D source arrays.


Specifications

Built:
1991
Speed Cruising:
11kts
Yard Built:
Ulstein (Norway)
Speed Full:
13kts
Length (LOA)
71.5m/ 235 ft
Speed working:
0-11 kts
Beam(moulded):
17.0m/   56 ft
Endurance
Job dependent
Draft(max):
5.9m/ 19.5ft
Range
13,500 nm
Gross Tonnage: 3834 Fuel capacity 1340m3 (353760 gal)
Lightship Displacement: 2578.4 Fuel Type; Marine Gas Oil
Crew 20 Bollard Pull 86.2 mt
Scientific Personnel: 35 Laboratory, existing:  
Call Sign WDC6698 Seismic Lab 218 m2/ 2345 ft2
IMO Number; 9010137 Other labs  
Registration: NY3360FG Main Dk Stbd Dry Lab 53 m2/570 ft2
    Main Dk Stbd Wet Lab 57 m2/613 ft2  
    Main Deck Pt Dry Lab 54 m2/ 581 ft2
    A-Deck Fwd Dry Lab 22 m2/ 237 ft2
    A-Deck Aft Dry Lab 21 m2/ 226 ft2
       
Propulsion Geared Diesel Propeller 2 x Ducted Variable Pitch
Main Engines   2 x Bergen BRG-6   Ulstein 4 blades
  2650kw /3550 hp (each) Rudder 2 x High Efficiency
Main Generators 2 x Shaft Generators   Becker Articulated
  1665 KVA   each Seismic Air Source 2 x Ariel JGK4
Harbor Generator 1 x Diesel Generator 720 kw Seismic Air Capacity   2750 CFM @ 1950 psi each
Bowthruster 1 x Tunnel 590 kw/ 800 hp    
       
Ownership The National Science Foundation
Operator Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
Classification: ABS- A-1, Ice Class 1C, AMS  
 
 
 
 

Science equipment

MCS Acquisition Syntrak 960-24 Communications HighSeasNet
  3590E & RAID via SeisNet   Inmarsat B
Hydrophone arrays Sentry solid state     Inmarsat F77
  12.5 meter groups   Iridium
  150m sections Multibeam Simrad EM120/122 1º x 1º
  up to four towed Marine Mammals SeaMap PAM
  separation 50 - 200 meters   2 x Fujinon Big Eye Binoculars
Source Arrays 4 x 10 gun strings General   Bell BGM-3 Gravimeter
  9 active, one spare / string   Geometrics 886 Magnetometer
  15 meter string length   RDI 150kHz ADCP
  1650 cu. In. per string   Lebus 9/16" Trawl winch
Source Controller DigiShot   Lebus 0.322" CTD winch
MCS geometry sensors Digicourse 5011 Compass/depth   Lebus 1/4" hydrographic   winch
  Sonardyne SIPS1   Stbd Side A frame
  Tailbuoy GPS   Telescoping Stern Boom
  Source String GPS   Sparton XBT system
MCS Navigation Spectra, Sprint, Reflex   Flow through Seawater
MCS QC Syntrak    
  SeisNet    
  ProMaxx    
  Focus